Can Bud Light Get You Drunk? (5 Beers Analyzed)

Sure, we drink beer to enjoy the taste. But sometimes, it is also a good way of having a little extra fun. In order for you to be able to enjoy yourself while safeguarding your limits, you’ll find all the information you need in this post.

For each of these calculations, we are using average heights and weights. For the average American male, this is 200 pounds and a height of 5’8. The average American female weighs about 171 pounds and is 5’3.

Nine to ten cans of Bud Light Original, Peels, or Chelada (4.2% ABV, 12oz/330ml) will get the average American male drunk, assuming they take 30 minutes to drink a can (0.085 – 0.095% BAC). Five to six cans will get an average female drunk (0.082% – 0.098% BAC)

Please note that the calculations made here are merely estimates. The exact number depends on your weight, hydration status, recent meals, kidney function, and much more. We recommend using a breathalyzer to achieve a more accurate estimate if you are looking for exact numbers.

When Are You Drunk?

Before determining whether Bud Light can get you drunk, we need to define the term. Several sources tell us that you are ‘tipsy’ at a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC, for short) between 0.03 and 0.12. This means that in most states, where the limit is 0.08 BAC, you are allowed to drive home while being tipsy.

Drunkenness is reached between a BAC of 0.09 and 0.25. The exact number depends on the person. When you reach this point, you’ll find you are likely to have impaired vision and memory and a (complete) loss of balance. You might also find yourself nauseous and drowsy.

We will use these numbers and the average weight mentioned above to determine if and how fast, Bud Light can get you drunk.

Additionally, we will use the 0.08% BAC as the maximum to be allowed to drive, as is federal law. Make sure you are aware of the legal implications of drinking and driving in your state and your limits before getting behind the wheel.

Can One Can Of Bud Light Get You Drunk?

Let’s start with seeing how drunk one can of Bud Light can make you. The original flavor, as well as Bud Light Peels and Bud Light Chelada, all have 4.2% ABV and are typically sold in 12 fl. oz cans, each containing 110 calories.

Keep in mind that Bud Light is an American light lager, which is lower in alcohol than its pale lager counterparts.

Bud Light Original, Peels, and Chelada (4.2% ABV)

All three of these Bud Light variations have the same ABV, so that we can group them into one calculation.

After drinking one 12 fl. oz can, the average American male will start with a BAC of 0.018%. This is so low that this person would feel completely normal as if they hadn’t drunk anything. Their BAC will reach 0 after about 1.1 hours.

The average American female will start a little higher, at 0.023%. This, too, is low, and they are likely to feel no effects from drinking. After 2 hours, their BAC will reach 0.

Bud Light Platinum (6% ABV)

Bud Light Platinum has a higher ABV than the original version, making it more likely a person will feel tipsy after one bottle.

Males start at 0.026% BAC and will be completely sober after about 2 hours. This BAC is not enough to feel tipsy just yet.

Females, again, start higher, at 0.033%. As people can begin to feel tipsy at 0.03% BAC, a person may start showing symptoms of being tipsy after one bottle of Bud Light Platinum. They can feel more confident, appear more talkative with a shorter attention span, and be more likely to take risks.

If this one bottle is all they drink, this person will be completely sober in 2.1 hours.

We’re guessing a whole six pack will do the trick

Bud Light Next (4% ABV)

Bud Light Next has the lowest alcohol percentage, at 4%. Consequently, the resulting BAC after drinking one can will be even lower than the other varieties.

For males, they will start at a BAC of 0.017% and be completely sober after 1 hour. Females will start at 0.022% and be sober after about 2 hours.

For most people, one can of Bud Light Next is not enough to feel drunk or even tipsy.

Can Three Cans Of Bud Light Get You Drunk?

Although one can isn’t enough for most people to feel any signs of tipsiness, three cans will likely impact you. For calculation purposes, we are sticking with the average height and weights for both males and females. We’ll also assume it takes about 30 minutes to drink one 12 fl. oz can. Therefore, drinking three cans will take 1,5 hours.

Bud Light Original, Peels, and Chelada (4.2% ABV)

After drinking three cans of beer in 1.5 hours, the average American female will reach a BAC of 0.058%. As mentioned, a person will start to show signs of tipsiness between 0.03-0.12 BAC. Consequently, a female will likely feel tipsy after drinking three cans of Bud Light (Original, Peels, and/or Chelada). They will take about 3.9 hours to be completely sober again.

The average male will reach a BAC of 0.037% after three cans. Although this is lower than females, they are likely to start to feel signs of tipsiness too. For them, it will take about 2.7 hours to be sober.

Bud Light Platinum (6% ABV)

If regular Bud Light makes you tipsy, Bud Light Platinum will too.

The average American male will reach 0.069% BAC, meaning they will likely feel tipsy after three cans but are still allowed to drive. After 4 hours, they will be entirely sober again.

For the average female, their BAC will be 0.098%. They will be tipsy and are no longer allowed to drive. It will take 1.1 hours for their BAC to go down enough for them to drive. After 5.8 hours, this person will be completely sober again.

Bud Light Next (4% ABV)

With 4% ABV, Bud Light Next is the variety with the lowest percentage. However, this does not mean you are unlikely to get drunk from drinking it.

After three cans and 1,5 hours to drink them, males will reach a BAC of 0.43%. As a result, they may start showing signs of tipsiness, but unlikely that they are drunk. After 2.5 hours more hours, they will be completely sober.

Their initial BAC is a little higher, at 0.063% for females. Consequently, they are likelier to feel tipsy but still unlikely to be drunk. In 3.7 additional hours, this person will be completely sober.

Can A Six Pack Of Bud Light Get You Drunk?

So, one beer of Bud Light does very little, and three cans might get you tipsy. Let’s scale this up and see if you can get drunk after drinking an entire six-pack. We’re using the same variables; the average male/female and 30 minutes to drink one beer.

Bud Light Original, Peels, and/or Chelada (4.2% ABV)

Drinking a six-pack of any of these varieties can get you drunk. Assuming it takes you 3 hours to drink a six-pack, American males will reach 0.099% BAC after their 6^th beer.

To review, a person is drunk between a BAC of 0.09 and 0.25, depending on the person. Therefore, a male may have impaired memory and vision, loss of balance, nausea, and drowsiness after drinking a six-pack.

However, 0.099% is still on the lower end, so it is entirely possible that this person is still just tipsy. It will take about 1.1 hours to reach 0.08% BAC, allowing them to drive again. After 5.9 hours after the last drink, they will be sober.

For females, they will reach 0.141% BAC after 3 hours. Therefore, it is likely the person will be drunk. As a result, it will take 3.6 hours for their BAC to drop enough to allow them to drive again legally. After 8.3 hours after the last drink, they will feel completely sober again.

Bud Light Platinum (6%)

This beer is stronger than the original Bud Light, making you more likely to be drunk after a six-pack.

A male reaches 0.146% BAC after drinking a six-pack of Bud Light Platinum. This means they are likely to show signs of drunkenness. It will take them a few hours, 3.9 to be exact, to be allowed to drive again. They’ll feel entirely sober after 8.6 hours.

Females with a lower average weight than men are highly likely to be drunk after a six-pack of Bud Light Platinum. They will reach 0.205% BAC and it will take 7.4 hours to be allowed to drive again legally. To be completely sober, they have to wait 12.1 hours.

Bud Light Next (4% ABV)

The last beer we’ll look at is Bud Light Next.

The average American male will feel tipsy after a six-pack but might not be drunk just yet. They will reach 0.094% BAC after their sixth beer, only just exceeding the limit of tipsiness. It will take them 0.8 hours to legally be allowed to drive, and five hours after their last beer, they will be fully sober again.

Females, however, with 0.134% BAC after the last beer, are likely to be drunk. It will take them significantly longer to be allowed to drive again, 3.2 hours. After the sixth beer, it will take 7.9 hours to be sober again.